Why is My Steering Wheel Vibrating?

August 14, 2015

We’ve all experienced this at one time or another over the lifetime of a car. You’re driving down the highway when all of a sudden you start to feel the steering wheel vibrating. Or maybe you’re braking and the wheel starts to vibrate. No matter when it happens, a vibrating steering wheel is a sign of a problem with your vehicle.

Fortunately, a good mechanic in Baltimore can diagnose the reason behind your steering wheel vibration and fix the underlying problem. All you have to do is bring your car in! Until then, here are a few common causes of steering wheel vibrations.

Is your steering wheel vibrating? Find out why.

Why is My Steering Wheel Vibrating?

The tires aren’t balanced.

This is a very common cause of a vibrating steering wheel. You might notice that the wheel only vibrates at highway speeds. Many times this is because the tires aren’t balanced.

Tire balancing and tire alignment are different. Tire alignment is when you align all of the wheels so they’re facing the same way. Tire balancing is balancing the tire so the weight of the tire is even around the axle.

Tires become unbalanced over time as a result of driving over rough roads or potholes. This causes the weight to be distributed unevenly on one side. As you pick up speed, this uneven distribution is exacerbated, and the steering wheel begins to vibrate.

In this case, all you need to do is balance your tires, and the vibrations should stop.

The brake rotor is warped.

Do the vibrations happen only when you apply the brakes? Then it’s probably a problem with the brake rotor.

The brake rotor is what the brakes press against to slow down your car. This part wears out naturally over time, and it can wear out unevenly. If this happens, you’ll get a vibration in the wheel when you apply the brakes.

In this case, you’ll need a new brake rotor. Another potential source of steering wheel vibrating is if a brake component is improperly installed, in which case you’d need to get the component adjusted.

There are a number of other reasons why your steering wheel might be vibrating, but these are two of the most common ones. To get your vibrating wheel fixed, bring your car in to your Baltimore mechanic, Auto Stop!

Auto Stop is your local auto repair shop, serving the Baltimore metro area. We are A+ accredited by the Better Business Bureau. We are also an ARI Fleet repair center for all Fleet Repairs.

Our mechanics are highly trained and use state-of-the-art Automotive diagnostic equipment to pinpoint your particular issues, repair it, and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. We promise to diagnose your auto repair problems in an honest and professional manner and all of our work is 100% guaranteed!